Information Resources for Families

The following organizations are sponsors of Nashville's annual celebration of Week of the Young Child. You may scan the entire resource list or go directly to a section, each organized alphabetically.

Nashville Community

Metro Government

Vanderbilt University

Tennessee State Government

Statewide Agencies & Organizations


Nashville Community

  • Adventure Science Center (615) 862-5160
    The Adventure Science Center offers interactive exhibits, engaging programs, and special events that encourage children to learn science through hands-on experiences.
  • Autism Society of Middle Tennessee (615) 385-2077
    Provides advocacy, education, and support. Montly workshops, orientations, annual conferences, support groups, referral to local resources, phone support, educational and legislative advocacy, public awareness opportunities and trainings, and an active involvement in the larger disability community are just some of many ways we are serving the Middle Tennessee autim community.
  • Centennial Sportsplex (615) 862-8480
    The Centennial Sportsplex is middle Tennessee's ultimate fitness, recreation, and sports complex--a $20-million, 145,000 square-foot year-round family center for ice skating, fitness, swimming, and tennis. Within 17 acres, you'll find the Aquatics Center, the Fitness Center, the Ice Arenas, and the Tennis Center. Each facility offers something special for everyone including a wide variety of programs, clinics, and lessons to help you get fit, stay fit, and have fun doing so.
  • Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (615) 416-2001
    The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, a nonprofit educational institution, provides a variety of programs focusing on music, history, art, and architecture. Interactive programs and guided tours of exhibits are offered to families, students, and educators, grades K-12. Each program concludes with a hands-on activity that invites participants to reflect on their visit through music-making, creative writing, discussions, drawing, or painting.
  • Cumberland Pediatric Foundation (615) 936-6053
    This foundation is an educational organization dedicated to promoting the health care of children of the Cumberland Region by improving the quality, increasing the efficiency, and lowering the cost of the delivery of pediatric health care services.
  • Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee (615) 386-9002
    A nonprofit organization of families whose mission is to enhance the quality of life throughout the lifespan of individuals with Down syndrome by providing support, information, and education to those individuals, their families, and their communities.
  • Family Voices of Tennessee (615) 383-9442 ext. 13
    Family Voices of Tennessee, housed at the Tennessee Disability Coalition, is the state chapter of Family Voices, an organization of families and friends speaking on behalf of children with special health care needs.
  • Frist Center for the Visual Arts Tours: (615) 744-3247
    The Frist Center, an art exhibition center with constantly changing exhibitions, is committed to education—helping people of all ages and backgrounds become more familiar with art. A wide range of educational programs includes ArtQuest, an interactive gallery with activities for ages 3 through adult, and guided “Storytime” tours for 4-5 year olds. Children 18 and under are always admitted free.
  • League of Women Voters of Nashville (615) 297-7134
    The League is a nonpartisan political organization with the mission to "educate, participate, and advocate." The League has a long history of voter registration and providing nonpartisan information on candidates and public issues. It encourages informed citizen participation in government. It also studies public policy issues, develops positions and advocates for these positions at the local, state and national levels. Membership is open to all citizens of voting age.
  • MusicCityMoms.com (615) 297-7134
    MusicCityMoms.com is an online resource dedicated to helping Midstate moms get the most out of motherhood in the Music City region. The site features regional and national news relevant to the parents, forums for parents to communicate and share ideas, and events calendars full of unique activities for parents to do with toddlers
  • Nashville Area Association for the Education of Young Children (615) 383-6292
    A nonprofit membership organization dedicated to improving the quality of care and education for children, birth through age 8, in Nashville and surrounding counties. It provides training opportunities, two annual conferences, and resources related to early childhood education.
  • Prevent Blindness of Tennessee (615) 352-0450
    Prevent Blindness of Tennessee offers a variety of community services, including "Operation I Care," which provides vision screenings for children, education programs, and training for school nurses, health care providers, and childcare workers. Free eye exams and glasses are provided to children referred through their vision screening programs. Senior Sight, for adults, provides educational information and seminars, vision and glaucoma screenings, eye safety programs and referral services.  Information is provided on eye health and safety, including a resource manual for those living with vision loss.
  • Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee (615) 383-0994
    Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee is dedicated to preventing abuse and neglect of children by working with other organizations and individuals to develop programs, services, and resources.  Programs include Tennessee Helpline, available on a 24-hour basis, 1-800-356-6767; Circle of Parents, small groups for support and education; Parent Pathway, in-home parent coaching, support and information to expectant parents and families with newborns.
  • Tennessee Voices for Children, Inc. (615) 269-7751
    Tennessee Voices for Children, Inc., is a statewide organization of families, professionals, business and community leaders, and government representatives committed to improving and expanding services related to the emotional and behavioral well-being of children.
  • Nashville Children's Theatre (615) 254-9103
    Tennessee's only professional, nonprofit theatre dedicated exclusively to kids and families. Throughout its history, NCT has introduced young people to the magi of live theatre through a full line-up of stage productions and related educational programs.
  • The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere (615) 833-1534
    The Zoo features wildlife from across the globe, including the Unseen New World, Grassmere Historic Farm, and other select species representing Africa, Asia, and North and South America, as well as the Jungle Gym Playground with a pond, cargo netting, slides, climbers and more.
  • The Scarritt-Bennett Center Cultural Museum (615) 340-7453
    The Cultural Museum provides interactive outreach programs in schools and educational centers. Topics offered include: "Child's Life in Japan," "Children Around the World," "Let's Go to Mexico," "Native American Indians," "Holidays Around the World," and "Tales Around the World."
  • United Way of Metropolitan Nashville (615) 255-8501
    United Way supports young children by investing in quality child care and early intervention services through the Caring for Children Council, and by ensuring that children have the literacy skills to succeed in school through the Read to Succeed literacy initiative.
  • You Have the Power (615) 292-7027
    You Have the Power began in 1993 under the direction of Andrea Conte, First Lady of Tennessee. Its mission is reducing violent crime and preventing victimization through community involvement and collaboration with other agencies. They have created video documentaries and resource books on topics such as domestic violence, elder abuse, and child sexual abuse.
 

Metropolitan Nashville Government

  • Mayor's Office of Children and Youth (615) 862-6000
    This Mayor's Office works in partnership with public and private entities to ensure that all of Nashville's children are healthy, safe, successful in school, and connected to caring adults, allowing them the opportunity to contribute to the progress of our city.
  • Metro Caring for Children-Community Impact Initiative (615) 862-7950 ext. 221
    This is a free program that provides support to Davidson County children, ages 0-18, and their families through family assessments, intervention planning, and links to community resources. Referrals are accepted from schools, social service agencies, and the community.
  • Metro Nashville Public Schools (615) 259-8400
    Metro Schools is committed to doing whatever it takes to serve our 70,000 students in 125 preK-12 schools. Metro Schools aims to become the top-performing school district in the nation.
  • Metro Parks (615) 862-8424 (Recreation & Sports)
    Metro Parks strives to provide diversified recreational facilities and programs across Davidson County. Metro Parks offer everything from art classes and galleries, to sports leagues, golf courses, and special population programs.
  • Metro Public Health Department (615) 340-0390
    The Health Department provides health protection, promotion, and information products to everyone in Nashville so they can enjoy healthy living free from disease, injury, and disability.
  • Nashville Public Library (615) 862-5800
    Nashville Public Library has 21 Public Library's that serve young children and their families by providing a full spectrum of materials, services, and public programs designed to foster a love for books and reading. From lap-sit story times and preschool story hours throughout the system, to marionette productions at the new Main Library, to an incredible array of materials for families to enjoy, the Public Library's services are free to all citizens of Davidson County.
 

Vanderbilt University

  • Child & Family Policy Center, Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies(615) 343-9905
    This center serves as a bridge between state and local officials and policy experts to evaluate and promote child and family programs. It also provides a Tennessee home for the annual Family Re-Union Conferences in Nashville.
  • Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (615) 322-8240
    A national center for research on development and disabilities, dedicated to unlocking the mysteries of learning and development. Its Family Outreach Center provides families who have concerns about their child's development with a single point of entry to the many services and supports of the Center, Vanderbilt, and the community. New resources include the Vanderbilt Kennedy Reading Clinic, Behavior Analysis Clinic, and SibSaturdays. The Susan Gray School for Children, a part of the Kennedy Center and Peabody College, provides early childhood education and special education and promotes training and research.
  • Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt (615) 936-1000
    VCH was created to give children a place to hope and heal. Though we focus every day on research and education that allows us to provide comprehensive, state of the art care, we know that care is best delivered in a nurturing, family-centered environment. It’s the only way we know how to treat children- as well as the families that love them.
  • Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory (615) 373-4897
    The Observatory provides outreach educational programs to inspire student and public interest in science through experiencing the wonders of astronomy and space exploration.
  • Vanderbilt Office of Community, Neighborhood and Government Relations (615) 343-0700
    This office builds relationships for community, neighborhood, and state and local government partners.
  • Junior League-Vanderbilt Center for Parenting Young Children (615) 936-FMLY [3659]
  • Vanderbilt Kennedy Center StudyFinder and Research Family Partners(615) 936-0448
  • Tennessee Disability Pathfinder (615)322-8529

State of Tennessee

Statewide Agencies and Organizations

  • Catholic Charities of Tennessee (615) 352-3087
    A member of Catholic Charities USA, this agency promotes innovative strategies that address human needs and social injustices.
  • The Tennessee Performing Arts Center (615) 782-4000
    TPAC is a private, nonprofit corporation dedicated to providing and supporting the presentation of the performing arts and arts education to Tennessee’s citizens. TPAC's nationally affiliated Wolf Trap Early Learning Through the Arts program transforms the performing arts into powerful educational tools for pre-school children. Within 7-week residencies and in partnership with early childhood educators, professional artists create arts-based activities to target the range of curriculum and development goals for preschoolers, including emerging literacy skills, social interaction, and self-expression.
  • Child Care Resource & Referral (423) 698-8528, x262
    The CCR&R provides free training and technical assistance to child care providers across the state to improve the quality of child care for all children. The CCR&R also matches parents seeking child care with child care providers. Whether you are a parent seeking child care resources, a child care provider seeking help with your work, employer trying to assist parents in your organization, or a community organization involved with children, we look forward to helping you obtain the information you need.
  • Bright Horizons Family Solutions (615) 256-9915

 

©2008 Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University